Former President Jimmy Carter to build affordable homes in Nashville

Former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter hand the ceremonial hammer to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville President and CEO Danny Heron Friday, August 31, 2018 signifying Nashville will be the Carter Work Project's beneficiary in 2019.(Photo: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville)

Nashville is the 2019 recipient of the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, led by the former president and first lady, the organization announced this week.

Five hundred volunteers will descend on the Park Preserve neighborhood of north Nashville from Oct. 6-11, 2019 to construct 20 homes for low-income families in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville.

Country music superstars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood will join the Carters and other volunteers in the work.

"This will be the 36th Carter Work Project and it's the first time it's come to Nashville," said Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville President and CEO Danny Herron. "He's 94 and she's 91 and they're still working. It's just amazing."

Jimmy Carter, left, and Dave Boucher(Photo: Submitted)

Herron visited the Carters at their current work site in Indiana on Friday to accept the award in the form of a ceremonial hammer.

Puerto Rico was originally slated to be the Carter Work Project's recipient next year. But damage from the hurricanes last year caused them to cancel.

Heron said Nashville's intense need for more affordable housing helped push the city to the front of the line, along with help from Brooks and Yearwood. City officials say 30,000 additional affordable homes are needed by 2026 to prevent widespread displacement.

Habitat for Humanity builds about 40 homes each year in Nashville for qualifying low-income families. They cost about $165,000 to $175,000 each, and monthly mortgage payments are kept to 30 percent of the occupants' monthly income.

Wait lists for the homes are now closed during much of the year because of high demand. They open about six months before new houses are built.

"Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville has built 800 homes," Herron said. "We've built 100 houses already in the Park Preserve neighborhood and we're building 14 there this fall. We're seeing a growing need."

The organization is planning to begin building townhouses rather than single-family homes to keep prices low, as values continue to rise.

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Habitat for Humanity CEO Danny Herron shows off the furniture section of the new Habitat ReStore that is opening August 1.(Photo: Mary Hance / The Tennessean)

"Our homeowners can't afford much more than $175,000," Herron said. "We're trying to find ways to do different designs to provide and deliver very affordable homes."

They're now working to line up lots for the Carter Work Project home donations, secure building permits, and preparing to host volunteers and media.

The application period to get on the list for these homes is expected to open in the spring. More information and applications can be found at www.habitatnashville.org/application or by calling 615-748-3620.